THE PAREF-Springdale Titans captured their second straight Division 2 championship after they slipped past the St. Louis College-Cebu (SLCC) Cardinals, 76–70, in the finals in the Cebu leg of the SM-National Basketball Training Center on Sunday at the Minglanilla Sports Complex.
Down by as many as 10 points in the third period, the Titans battled their way back at the start of the fourth and rode the terrific performances of Jett Sy and Sean Quitevis down the stretch to get the victory and earn the right to represent Cebu in the regional finals.
Sy and Quitevis, who was named as the tournament MVP, each had 14 points while Joshua Balankig added 11 markers.
The Titans held a five-point lead, 70–65, but the Cardinals did not go away easily and pulled to within two, 68–70, after a three-point play by John Abano.
But Quitevis answered right back with a clutch floater to push their lead back to four, 72–68, time down to 14 seconds.
Abano gave St. Louis College a sliver of hope with a corner jumper with under seven seconds left, but the Titans proved too strong as they held on to the win after big man Giles Benedicto completed a three-point play and swished in a free throw.
Matthew Paras scored 19 to lead the way for the Cardinals while Abano and Roby Oporto chipped in 16 and 12 markers, respectively.
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